Modular cooler apparatus

ABSTRACT

A modular cooler apparatus has a thermally insulated main container body having at least two nestable interior components. A primary interior component has at least two separate compartments in a non fluid transfer relation. A first one of the compartments has a drain opening to allow for dispensing of a cooled drinking liquid such as spring water, the walls of this compartment being thermally conductive to allow for coolant contained in the container main body to effect cooling of the drinking liquid. A second one of the compartments is designed to receive the secondary interior component, and may alternatively be used without the component to increase storage capacity. The secondary interior component is fabricated from thermally insulating material and includes apertures for beverage containers, a carrying handle, and additional space for containment of coolant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to portable storageapparatuses. More particularly, it relates to a modular cooler apparatushaving removable inner sections which allow for selectivecompartmentalization.

[0002] 1. Statement of the Prior Art

[0003] There are numerous shapes and sizes of coolers and other devicesfor storing and maintaining the temperature of food and otherperishables. These coolers typically have a lid with a single interiorcompartment. Some coolers are compartmentalized, containing one or moreseparate spaces within which food items can be stored. The individualcompartments are most often static, that is, not capable ofreconfiguration in order to accommodate different sizes and shapes ofperishable items to be stored.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,613 issued to Williams discloses a modularcooler arrangement having a plurality of static compartments, some ofwhich are in the form of sliding drawers which can be pulled out toallow for selective access to the contents contained therein.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. issued to Perianes et al. discloses a portablecooler comprising a container body of insulating material and providedwith a top cover consisting of two areas, top and bottom, the bottom onehaving a lesser-profile defining a resting edge for an intermediatedrilled plate. The top area has a plurality of removable compartmentsfor the maintaining the temperature of perishables, resting on theintermediate drilled plate. At the lower area a liquid tank receivesliquid defrosting from ice used in the top area for attaining a desiredtemperature, the liquefaction passing through the drilled bottom and theintermediate drilled plate, this liquid tank being provided with adraining hole with the relevant sealing plug. .

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,875 issued to Kieler discloses a beveragecooler comprises a housing member of generally rectangularconfiguration. The housing includes a bottom horizontal wall and aplurality of generally vertical side and end walls which are integrallyformed with the bottom horizontal wall to define an enclosure having atop opening. Coolant and consumable items normally are inserted in thecooler through the top opening and a cover member is positioned over thevertical walls to form an enclosed container. Sleeve members extendthrough at least one on the vertical wall members and are integraltherewith. The sleeve members form an integral outer surface with thewall members for preventing cool air from leaking from the interior ofthe cooler. The sleeve members enable beverage containers to be insertedtherein so that the containers can be cooled by being adjacent the coolair in the interior of the beverage cooler.

[0007] Thus, while the prior art does show compartmentalized coolerconfigurations, coolers having interchangeable interior componentsallowing for compartments to be selectively and interchangeablereconfigured are not shown in the prior art. None of the aboveinventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seento describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a modular cooler apparatus thathas a thermally insulated main container body having at least twonestable interior components. A primary interior component has at leasttwo separate compartments in a non fluid transfer relation to preventthe flow of coolant liquefaction therein. A first one of thecompartments has a drain opening formed therein to allow for dispensingof a cooled drinking liquid such as spring water, the walls of thiscompartment being thermally conductive to allow for coolant contained inthe container main body to effect cooling of the drinking liquid. Asecond one of the compartments is designed to receive the secondaryinterior component, and may alternatively be used without the componentto increase storage capacity. The secondary interior component isfabricated from thermally insulating material and includes apertures forbeverage containers, a carrying handle, and additional space forcontainment of coolant.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved compartmentalized cooler apparatus.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an improvedcompartmentalized cooler apparatus having removable components to allowfor selective compartmentalization.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide an improvedcompartmentalized cooler apparatus having nestable inner components ofvarying configuration which may be used singly or in combination.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an improvedcompartmentalized cooler apparatus having at least one compartment forstoring uncontained cooled liquid, the compartment including a spigotfor dispensing the liquid.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide an improvedcompartmentalized cooler apparatus having at least one inner storagecomponent which is self contained and having a handle to allow forportability.

[0014] Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provideimproved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for thepurposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effectivein accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a sectional perspective view of the modular coolerapparatus of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the modular coolerapparatus of the invention detailing the interrelation of the interiorcomponents.

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the modular cooler apparatus, partlyin section.

[0020]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the primary interior componentof the modular cooler apparatus.

[0021] FIGS. 5A-5C show plan, front, and side views, respectively, of asecondary interior component of the modular cooler apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5C, the apparatus of the presentinvention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. Theapparatus 10 includes a thermoinsulating main body or container 20,molded with a plastic material, which may optionally include athermoinsulating layer 22 or an intermediate thermoinsulating fillersuch as an expanded polyurethane or similar material disposed interiorlyof the molded plastic facing material 24. The main body 20 has agenerally rectangular profile as shown, however other shapes may beutilized as is well known in the art. The container includes a drainhole 25, which may provide an opening for dispensing liquids as will beexplained in more detail later. A cover 26 is sized for slidingengagement within horizontally extending channels 28, the cover formedfrom the same insulating material as the main body 20. The cover 26 hasopposing handles 30 to allow for lifting of the container 20, the weightbearing capacity of the cover 26 when seated within channels 28 beingsufficient to allow for lifting of the container 20 even when full withcoolant and, e.g., foodstuffs or other items to be refrigerated.

[0023] As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, a pair of nestable innercomponents are configured for containment within container 20. A primaryinner component 36 is formed from a thermally conductive material suchas metal or a thin plastic material and has two separate compartments. Afirst compartment 38 is designed for use as a container for drinkingfluid and therefor does not contain any coolant. The drinking fluid,which may be water, punch, wine, etc. may be dispensed through a spigot40, which may be threadably engaged within aperture 42. The aperture 42is axially alignable with drain hole 25 of container body 20 throughwhich spigot 40 must also extend. An additional drain hole (not shown)may be provided in container body 20. It can be appreciated that inorder to avoid contamination with coolant fluid or other materialscontained within container 20, aperture 40 must be sealed before thecompartment is filled with liquid. Accordingly, inner component 36 mustfirst be seated within the container 20 so that apertures 42 and 25 maybe aligned and spigot 40 threadedly engaged within aperture 42 so as tobe in fluid tight relation therewith. Any coolant leaking into thecompartment 38 during the installation process may then be cleaned outand the compartment 38 may be filled with the desired liquid. A secondcompartment 44 immediately adjacent to but fluidly separated fromcompartment 38 is designed as either a stand alone cooler section, or toprovide support for the containment of a secondary inner component 48depending on how it is configured. If used as a stand alone coolersection, the compartment 44 may be filled with coolant as desired. Asthe walls 50 of the primary inner component are thermally conductive,the compartment 44 will maintain temperature adequately with no coolanttherein, provided there is some coolant in container 20 and the top 26is not opened frequently. For most applications however, some coolantshould be used in compartment 44.

[0024] The compartment 44 may alternatively be used to contain thesecondary inner component 48 which includes apertures 54 for holdingbeverage containers and the like in an upright position. At least somecoolant is preferably contained within component 48. The component mayinclude rectangular recesses for holding sandwich meats, and may eveninclude recesses having individual fluid tight coverings (not shown) forcontaining condiments. Thus, the inner component 48 is not limited to aparticular configuration, but rather serves the purpose of providing aportable, self contained, nestable subcomponent for a cooler which maybe passed around as desired without removing any of the individual itemsstored therein from the coolant medium. It is well known thatmayonnaise, for example, can quickly warm to the ambient temperature andspoil, posing a health hazard. With the present invention, a mayonnaisejar (not shown) may be contained within apertures 54 and passed amongseveral users simply by grasping handle 56 and lifting the innercomponent 48 out. The walls 60 of the inner component 48 are thermallyinsulating and therefore allow the temperature of the coolant to bemaintained for brief periods of time. Slots 62 provided in the sidewalls64 of the inner component 48 allow for coolant liquefaction fromcompartment 44 to seep into and mix with coolant stored in the innercomponent 48, allowing rapid compensation for any warming occurring whenthe component 48 is removed. Stabilization of inner component 48 withincompartment 44 is facilitated by rectangular protuberances 70 which aresized for frictional engagement within notches 72 formed in recess 74which extends about the perimeter of inner component 36.

[0025] In use, the main container 20 may be filled with a relativelysmall amount of liquified coolant before inserting primary innercomponent 36. After aligning apertures 25 and 42, a suitable spigotassembly may be threaded through and engaged within apertures 25 and 42to allow for fluid flow from compartment 38 into and through the spigotfor dispensing. It can be appreciated that use of a spigot assemblyeffectively locks component 36 within the container 20, limitingrelative movement therebetween. A beverage for dispensing may then bepoured into compartment 38, the beverage preferably being previouslycooled. A coolant such as ice may then be liberally placed into the void75 in the bottom of compartment 44. The coolant level should besufficient to fill at least the entire void 75 to ensure adequatecooling of all compartments. Component 48 may then be placed withincompartment 44, with coolant added thereto as desired. Of course, ifcomponent 48 is not used, coolant may be used in any quantity desiredprovided sufficient room is left to place articles to be cooled (if any)within compartment 44.

[0026] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions.

[0027] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular cooler apparatus comprising: athermally insulating main body having an interior void for containingcoolant, said main body including a cover sealingly engageable with atop edge of said main body to form a thermally insulating container; atleast two nestable inner components containable within said main body, afirst inner component having two compartments, a first one of saidcompartments adapted for containing drinking fluid, and includingdispensing means allowing for selective dispensing of said drinkingfluid, a second one of said compartments adapted for containing saidsecond inner component, said first inner component having thermallyconductive sidewalls; said second inner component having thermallyinsulating walls and a plurality of individual support structures forsupporting, in segregated fashion, a plurality of individual items, saidsecond inner component having space for containing coolant and acarrying handle, whereby said second inner component can be selectivelyremoved from said second compartment and maintain a desired thermalenvironment for said individual items.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said second inner component contains coolant medium.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said second inner component includes anintegrally formed carrying handle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid individual support structures includes a support structure forsupporting a bottled condiment.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidindividual support structures includes a cup holder.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein at least one of said individual support structuresincludes a cover member which may be selectively sealingly engaged anddisengaged.